Best Kick Scooters for kids Reviews & Expert Buyer’s Guide

Trying to figure out which is the best kick scooters for kids can be difficult. When scooters first came out, there was only really one kind. These days, there are scooters for every age, skill set, and level of development.

In this article, I will explain what separates a kid’s scooter from an adult one, provide a list of the 10 kick scooters for kids, and provide a helpful buyer’s guide, so you can find the best kids scooters for your child. Scooters have been a popular child's toy for decades.

With good reason. They are fun and faster than running feet. Parents like them because they are relatively simple for children to master, they encourage kids to get outside and they are good tools for exercise.

Scooters also help kids develop gross motor skills and learn balance before learning to ride a bicycle. As long as there has been a demand for scooters, parents have been trying to find the best kick scooters for kids.

Different Scooters have different wheel configurations as well as different sized handlebars and decks (the part you stand on). Some have brakes, some are foldable, and some are heavier than others.

01. Razor California Longboard Scooter

This first recommended scooter is made by one of the top manufacturers of kick scooters, Razor.

The Longboard scooter is only the first of several entries by Razor on this list. It is the ultimate in stylish scooters.

The California Longboard, with its two large (128 mm) wheels make it a smooth ride.

With an extra long deck, its perfect for long comfortable rides. It is recommended for children over eight years old. Yet, with adjustable handlebars, it can hold an adult of up to 220 lbs.

The deck is stylized and there are soft rubber grips on the handlebars. This is the perfect kick scooter for any kids (or kids at heart) who want a comfortable easy ride.

Deck:

Many of the products on our list feature decks made out of one of two materials: plastic or steel. While the Longboard does feature a steel support, the primary material of the deck that your child will come in contact with is plywood laminate.

This will help blunt any blow that might occur when your child is attempting tricks. Of course, the extra long 32” deck length may limit that ability a bit in the first place.

T-Bar:

While trying to get your child ready for the “big leagues,” it is important that the various design features are introduced incrementally so they can get used to them. In this instance, the T-bar of the Longboard does just that.

While the material is made from a rigid steel which provides additional support for tricks, it is still adjustable and features rubber hand grips to prevent slippage.

Rear:

One of the big differences between a professional scooter and a training scooter is the rear kick tail. A pro scooter will feature a rear kick tail with a sharper angle to make pulling off tricks easier.

The Razor Longboard finds a middle ground in this regard by providing a kick tail but making the slope more gradual to limit some of the force your child can apply while attempting tricks.

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02. Razor Jr. Lil' Kick Scooter

The second Razor scooter on this list, the Lil' Kick scooter, is a great first-time scooter for a toddler.

If you are looking for “baby’s first scooter,” then this is likely one of your best bets.

Made from the trusted scooter brand, Razor, a number of features have been designed on this scooter with safety for younger children in mind.

Most notably, this scooter features a three-wheeled tricycle-like design.

Support:

Since younger children are still learning the finer points of gross motor skills--not to even mention fine motor skills--it is important that they are not expected to balance themselves on a scooter the same way you would expect an older, more developed rider to be able to.

The three-wheeled design provides that additional stability to the point that the scooter will remain upright even if there is no rider holding it up.

Easy to Use:

Going hand-in-hand with the three-wheeled design is the fact that this scooter is positioned much lower to the ground than most other scooters.

Moreover, the wheels are oversized and made out of a softer material than the common hard urethane that professional scooters are made out of. Combined, this provides a smoother riding experience that is easier to get started but limit top speed.

Protection:

While many of the design features of the Lil’ Kick is constructed in a way that makes the scooter inherently safer, a number of other qualities are explicitly made with safety in mind.

For instance, the steel frame of the T-bar is padded to prevent a sharp jab should your child fall when using the Lil’ Kick. On top of that, the steel deck is also framed with plastic, so should your child attempt a trick, they will not injure their legs.

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03. Razor Jr. Folding Kiddie Kick Scooter

While the Razor Jr. lineup is generally designed to provide a solid learning experience for children under the age of 5, not all children develop at the same rate.

Some children need a bit of additional help with the fundamentals and are likely to fall or fail even in the beginning stages regardless the protective features. That is where the Kiddie Kick comes into play.

It is made of high-quality steel aluminum and plastic. The slip-resistant deck has is heavy and low to the ground, which means it is easier for the scooter to stay upright.

Deck:

The deck of the Kiddie Kick differs from most of the others on our list in a couple ways. First, the deck is made out of plastic which encircles a steel frame.

This provides structural integrity while also protecting your child’s legs. Also, the deck is molded to guard the rear wheels into a wing to prevent loose strings of clothing from accidentally getting caught in them.

Design:

One of the most notable features about the Kiddie Kick is the absence of a primary part found on most other scooters: the kick tail.

Most scooters, including many of the scooters designed for use by young children, will feature a kick tail on the back to help facilitate aerial tricks.

The absence of a kick tail with the Kiddie Kick ensures that your child will focus on the fundamentals of riding their scooter.

Protection:

The Kiddie Kick provides a couple features that are uniquely focused on keeping your child upright and safe while they ride.

Like other scooters in the Razor Jr. lineup, the Kiddie Kick features a three-wheeled design with the two-wheel axle in the rear. Another safety feature is the inclusion of non-slip foam grips on the handlebars.

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04. Micro Maxi Kick Scooter with T-bar

The Maxi scooter is perfect for children who are a little older than for the previous scooter. Unlike some of the more popular brands of scooters, the Micro Kickboard focuses on children’s scooters more than adults.

While they do offer a few adult scooters, they have nearly twice as many scooters made explicitly for children.

This leads to some design features that are more appropriately suited for children and offer more scooters for different development stages.

Replaceable:

One thing that many scooter manufacturers of scooters for younger children forget is that kids play roughly with their toys.

Thankfully, the Micro Maxi is made from parts which are all replaceable. Instead of having to buy a new scooter every time, you can simply replace the broken part.

Brake:

As your child develops, the more advanced scooters will feature a flex brake. Unlike spring breaks which have a tendency to wear out somewhat quickly, flex brakes rely on simply applying pressure to the back wheel by standing on an overhanging piece.

Of course, young children are generally not as good at controlling their body, so the Micro Maxi Kick features a non-slip flex brake to bridge the gap until their gross motor skills are more developed.

Wheels:

If your child is at that awkward stage where they are ready for a bit more of a challenge, but not yet ready to jump to the intermediate stage of scooters, the Micro Maxi offers a wheel design that can give them a better feel for an intermediate scooter without providing too many options to hurt themselves.

The polyurethane wheels are larger which will allow for a smoother and quicker ride but do not offer a lift for tricks.

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05. Micro Mini Original Kick Scooter

The Micro Mini is the ideal scooter for children who have mastered the basic art of remaining upright while riding a scooter but are not quite ready for a scooter that demands finer control of their gross motor skills.

With a handful of features, the Micro Mini Original slowly introduces certain riding concepts that will be more important as they continue to develop.

It has three large wheels, which makes it incredibly stable. The scooter can roll over grass, gravel and small rocks as well as pavement.

T-Bar:

Eventually, any scooter rider will have to become comfortable leaning into their turns if they want to ride professional scooters.

Of course, children may not be able to balance their body while leaning quite as well. That is why the Mini Original features a pivoting T-bar that will allow them to lean into a turn without additional risk of falling.

Deck:

As your child develops, the scooter decks that they ride on will get slimmer and slimmer. In an effort to help prepare your child for this development, the Mini Original features a slightly slimmer design than some of the other scooters for kids we reviewed.

However, it still offers a non-slip texture and plastic frame to prevent injuries.

Brakes:

Unlike some of the more advanced Micro Kickboards, the Mini Original does feature a flex brake, but its design is intended to force your child to pay a bit more attention when using it and be more deliberate while braking.

The Mini Original accomplishes this by raising the brake a bit higher than most flex brakes. This prevents your child from accidentally braking and falling over, making braking a conscious decision.

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06. Razor Party Pop Kick Scooter

The Razor Party Pop Kick is definitely a scooter meant for children who have developed some gross motor skills but are not yet ready for the big leagues.

Unlike some of the other intermediate scooters on our list, the Party Pop is a bit more limited in what it can accomplish, but it still gears the overall design towards a general ability to remain upright and control the scooter with precision.

Deck:

Clearly, the most notable quality about the Party Pop deck is that it features 12 multi-color LED lights.

While this is fun and will help ensure that drivers and other people are aware of your child’s presence when riding, the most notable quality from a developmental standpoint in the deck’s width.

This deck is one of the slimmer on our list and will help your child gradually learn to ride an adult scooter.

T-Bar:

The T-bar provides a mixture of features that aim to ease your child into the next stage of development while still offering some protection.

First, the two-wheel design is controlled by a forked axle which will allow them to learn how to lean into their turns.

Still, the handlebars are covered with a non-slip foam to help prevent falls or injuries while the develop new skills.

Rear:

A couple things should stand out from the Party Pop’s rear. First, the absence of a kicktail will limit your child’s ability to perform aerial tricks. This is so they will continue to focus on learning how to properly ride the scooter.

However, they will be expected to have a bit more awareness about their body position as the flex brake is lower set and more in line with a professional design.

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07. Vokul Mini Kick Scooter

The Vokul Mini Kick Scooter is another one of the best kick scooters for toddlers.

It has three wheels, with two wheels in the front. This is good because this is where the child balances more of their weight.

This will help the rider feel more stable. This will help a toddler that does not feel like they have good balance.

While it may look similar to many of the other scooters for kids that we reviewed, the Vokul actually features a number of subtle design differences that are a sharp turn in the trend.

Thankfully, none of those features actually require your child to make sharp turns as this is squarely a beginner’s scooter.

Axle:

One of the biggest differences in the Vokul when compared to its competitors is the axle design. Rather than relying on direct axles, the Vokul utilizes a drive by wire design.

This makes steering a bit more controlled and reduces the immediate effect of making too sharp of a turn. That said, if the wires break, the scooter will not turn.

Deck:

The deck also features some unique design choices which make it easier to ride for beginners. While a wide deck is common among children’s scooters, the Vokul’s deck is oblong in shape providing additional room for footing.

Also, the ABS plastic and ridged surface helps ensure that your child’s footing will not slip while in use.

Wheels:

The Vokul is one of the only scooters on our list that actually uses a high-quality bearing to ensure that the wheel glides smoothly.

With ABEC 5 bearings, this scooter will glide easily without coasting out of control. Moreover, the lighted wheels will alert drivers and others around to your child’s presence when they are riding.

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08. Razor A3 Scooter Clear

This is another Razor scooter and made a little differently than the Razor A or Razor A2 scooters.

It is a classic kick scooter made of sturdy aircraft-grade aluminum. It has two 125 mm inline-style urethane wheels.

The larger wheels make it easier for the rider to roll over anything in their path, like sidewalk cracks.

They also have a springless shock absorption system. There is a rear fender brake for quick stops. It folds easily for transport and storage. It is even sturdy enough to withstand less careful kid treatment.

I recommend this scooter for any kid (and maybe parent) who is serious about riding a scooter for a long time and in different kinds of places.

Materials:

Unlike most of the other scooters on our list, the Razor A3 is not made from materials that are explicitly designed to keep children safe.

Instead, this scooter is made from materials that are used in professional grade products. The most notable example of this is the deck and T-bar which eschew the plastic or steel for aircraft-grade aluminum alloy.

This provides the strength needed for hard riding while also being light enough to pull off more advanced tricks.

Rear:

While performing aerial tricks might seem a bit scary to parents, the Razor A3 understands that children learn best in graduated steps.

That is why they have altered the rear of this somewhat professional-style scooter to help children learn the basics of tricks first.

The wheel bar allows children to experiment with tricks that place one wheel in the air without pushing them to attempt full, leaping aerial tricks.

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09. Micro Maxi Deluxe Kick Scooter

This is a good scooter for them to ride when they're learning how to use lean steering.

The Maxi Deluxe is by Micro Kickboards on our list.

This model bridges the gap between the Maxi Kick nad Mini Original.

It features the lowered brake and narrow back deck which will require a bit more control but is still focused on many of the protective features to help your child develop over time without risk of injury.

T-Bar:

The T-bar of the Maxi Deluxe uses the pivoting system found on some of their beginner models. This will allow your child to steer the scooter by leaning with the dual front wheels help ensure that they do not fall while doing so.

The handlebars are coated with non-slip handles while the stem is made from anodized steel.

Deck:

The deck of the Maxi Deluxe comes with a couple features that will help ensure that your child remains upright while still developing more advanced skills.

First, the deck features a wide, teardrop shape which will provide plenty of room to stand but help develop back foot control--something intermediate scooters will require. Also, the logo is non-slip silicone.

Lifespan:

One of the best features of the Maxi Deluxe is that it is made with longevity in mind--both from a manufacturing standpoint and from a developmental standpoint.

In terms of the product lifecycle, this is another Micro Kickboard scooter that features parts which are all replaceable.

On the developmental side, this scooter’s handlebars can be adjusted as your child grows. With a range of 24” to 33.5”, it is suitable for children aged 5 to 12.

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10. Shenen 3 Wheel Kick Scooter

This is a scooter that can really grow with your child. While not a “known commodity” in the scooter market, Shenen has quickly adapted many of the features used for some of the best kick scooters for kids and applied them to their own product.

Then they go one step further by providing a few additional features and designs that improve on the standard model.

Portable:

Children love to bring their toys with them wherever they go, likely because they know that boredom awaits if they do not. With a scooter, this can be problematic even if it folds in half.

However, the Shenen 3 is one of the few scooters we saw where the T-bar does not simply fold over the deck for travel but can be removed altogether.

Deck:

Unlike some of the other scooters on our list, Shenen understands that simply placing a protective plastic cover over a steel deck will not change the fact that the weight from the steel will ultimately carry with it the same force of momentum if it starts to spin.

That is why the Shenen scooter uses a 13” x 5” deck that is made out of nylon fiberglass. This material is strong enough to support your child’s weight but light enough to limit any swinging momentum.

Safety:

Like many of the other scooters for kids on our list, this one features a three-wheeled design with the two-wheeled portion at the front of the scooter. However, the Shenen 3’s wheels also have the advantage of lighting up.

All three wheels feature and LED light that flashes while in use. This will alert any drivers or other passersby to the presence of your child while they are riding on their scooter to provide an additional level of situational safety.

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Kick Scooters for kids: Things to Consider Before Buying

When it comes to a child’s scooter, there are a number of features that you will want to look out for to make sure that they are most appropriately suited for the rider.

Adult and professional scooters are made for heavier use, heavier riders, and more skilled riders, As such, a child’s scooter should scale back some of these features to ensure that the child can learn to ride the scooter safely without the expectation of more developed gross and fine motor skills.

One important difference between beginner scooters and and more advanced models is the wheel design. The Best Kick Scooters for kids should feature a three-wheeled design. Think of it like a tricycle for scooters.

This will provide additional support to help your child balance as they learn how to ride a scooter for the first time.

Another important consideration for a beginner scooter is the material. Adult scooters are generally made out of metal that can hurt children if they fall down. Beginner scooters are generally made from or framed by plastic. These are the things to think about:

Materials:

Most adult scooters are made out of one of two materials: steel or aluminum. Some of the professional scooters even integrate tungsten or titanium which are noted for being both incredibly strong as well as amazingly lightweight.

Of course, younger children have no need for this type of material and will instead be hindered by its use in most cases.

The weight of these materials alone can make using a scooter constructed from them difficult to use for children under the age of 5. Instead, most children’s scooters will be made in part or whole by different types of plastic.

The type of plastic can range from ABS plastic that is used for things like legos to more flexible types of plastic like fiberglass.

The important thing to remember is that you want the scooter to be made from materials that are light enough to easily maneuver as well as prevent any real damage should your child fall and be struck by the scooter.

Of course, many children’s scooters will hedge their bets and provide a steel body that is then covered or coated with various materials.

This can be an effective balance between protection and durability, but it is important to make sure that scooters made like this are not intended to be used for tricks.

You can tell whether or not a scooter is truly intended to be used for tricks by the end of its deck. If the deck ends in a kick tail, then the scooter is meant to perform tricks in some respect.

Wheels:

When it comes to buying a children’s scooter, the wheels may be the single most important factor. While the size and wheel material can have a minor influence on your decision.

It is the number of wheels and their arrangement which should ultimately weight heaviest when making your decision. The two primary wheel sets are two, like with a bicycle, and three, like with a tricycle.

The bicycle wheelset is fairly straightforward and familiar. The two wheels are arranged in a straight line. This provides the rider with more control for tighter turns and will also allow for quicker speeds.

Two wheels is also a must if your child wants to attempt challenging aerial tricks. It should go without saying that the two-wheeled scooters are best reserved for intermediate riders over the age of 6.

When it comes to the three-wheeled, or tricycle, style of scooter, there are actually two different arrangements: front and rear. The rear wheeled arrangement is similar to the standard tricycle.

Counter-intuitively, this arrangement is actually best suited for a child too old for the forward wheel design but not old enough for the bicycle design.

This is because it requires the rider to place their weight on their rear foot--which is not the natural instinct of younger children.

Younger children who are often still mastering how to run will inherently want to lean forward when they ride a scooter.

In this instance, you will want to make sure that the scooter’s tricycle design features a front wheel alignment. This will provide more stability and help prevent your child from falling or crashing the scooter.

Deck:

The deck can be a bit tricky to figure out when it comes to purchasing a scooter for your child. The reason is that the deck is second only to the wheels when it comes to appropriateness based on your child’s skill set.

While the number of wheels and their arrangement provide a fairly obvious standard of progression, the different qualities of a scooter’s deck are more subtle.

For instance, the width of the deck is important, but more so depending on the age of your child. Younger children are less likely to make it a point to control the position and leverage of their body while riding their scooter.

As such, it is important that their deck can support their weight and remain stable even if they are not using the perfect technique.

Another important feature when determining which deck is appropriate for your child is the grip. Decks can come with a whole host of different types of grip.

Even adult scooters will generally feature a sandpaper-like sheet of grip tape, though this is as much to help assist with aerial tricks as it is to prevent slippage.

For children, the most common type of grip is a soft plastic like polyurethane. A ridged, hard plastic surface is another option, but this provides less grip in wet or muddy conditions.

Finally, silicone is likely the best non-slip grip that decks will use. The final deck consideration will be the kick tail.

If you are buying a scooter for a child under the age of 5, this is pretty easy consideration: do not buy a scooter with a kick tail.

Kick tails are used to apply pressure to the rear of the deck to air in performing aerial tricks.

The slope of the kick tail will influence how effective it is in assisting with aerial tricks. The higher the slope the less downforce you can apply.

Safety:

There are some safety tips for when a kid rides a scooter.

Helmets - On all scooters and at all ages, kids should be wearing helmets when they are riding to protect their heads and faces in the event of an accident.

Elbow and Knee pads - In many cases, knee and elbow pads are also important protection measures. This is especially true for younger kids or those whose balance is a little less developed.

Shoes - Anyone riding a scooter should be wearing sturdy shoes to protect their feet. They should never be barefoot on the scooter. Also, they should not be wearing flimsy sandals.

T-Bar:

In the world of professional scooter riding, the T-bar is actually one of the most important parts.

Due to its impact on control and tricks, the various components that make up the T-bar all need to be of exceptional quality to withstand the abuse that professional riders put them through.

For a children’s scooter, this is simply not the case. When judging a child’s scooter, the T-bar should be a distant third when factoring in the different design qualities.

This is in a large part because there is not a great deal of difference between the t-bars used for children’s scooters.

In fairness, there does not need to be. Children will not be ripping through an obstacle trick course at 30 mph and pulling off stunning aerial tricks.

Instead, the t-bar’s best feature will be its ability to adjust and adapt to your child or travel. Many t-bars can be folded down to make transporting the scooter easier.

This can be a boon to both the parents and the child since a kid playing on a scooter is not disrupting their parents. A T-bar that can adjust its height will help extend the usable lifespan of the scooter as the child continues to grow.

Some scooters feature a pivot system to aid in steering. In this setup, the child can lean the handlebars one direction or the other to list slightly without having to turn the handlebars or lean on the deck.

This allows the child to remain upright while turning the scooter and will help prevent them from falling off.

Other Considerations:

Brakes - look for a flex brake over a spring break

Lights - lighted wheels or decks can alert drivers and others to your child’s presence when they are riding

Replaceable - some scooters feature products where every part is replaceable, extending the scooter’s lifespan

Wheels - polyurethane is the best and bigger wheels provide more control

Neck - this may be the only part of the scooter you want to be metal regardless your child’s age

Final Verdict:

The Best Kick Scooters will definitely not be the same model for all riders. Even in the beginner and intermediate stages, there are a number of different design features that can make one scooter better suited for your child over another.

In fact, there are so many different progressions to child development that the Best Kick Scooters for your child can change from year to year.

While you may be less than thrilled to purchase half a dozen scooters or more for your child, it is still important that you understand your child’s level of development--especially when it comes to gross and fine motor skills.

Pushing too advanced of a scooter onto your child for economic or other reasons can result in your child injuring their self because they rode on a scooter that they were not truly ready or developed enough to ride.

For the beginner levels, you will want to make sure that your child rides a scooter with a three-wheeled tricycle design. This design will provide additional stability while your child learns to balance while riding.

However, even in the tricycle style of the scooter, there is the option of forwarding or rear wheel support.

For the youngest of riders, the forward wheel support will help offset their natural inclination to lean forward as they ride.

In this instance, I recommend the Vokul. With a super-wide deck that features tough but lightweight ABS plastic and non-slip grip, this is one of the more stable scooters we reviewed.

The next stage of development is probably best handled by the Razor Jr. Lil' Kick. With the tricycle design centered in the rear as well as an exaggerated kick tail, your child will be able to practice more advanced control techniques as well as begin to experiment with aerial tricks.

However, the high slope of the kick tail will prevent them from getting too far out of hand. Once your child reaches an intermediate stage of skill, I suggest moving them onto the Razor A3.

This scooter features many of the designs which they will eventually encounter once they begin using an adult scooter, like a full metal frame. The brakes and wheels are also closer to an adult style while the deck is much slimmer.

Finally, the wheelie bar will allow them to test the waters with tricks without going overboard.

Angelica Murdock

I'm a mother of two and loves being a parent. I run WelcomeParenthood blog to make parenting easier. Keeping this motto in mind, my aim to publish all sorts of tips, tricks, and guideline related to parenting. I provide a hands-on review of various baby gears to add a new dimension to your parenting experience.